Israel Attacks Addressed By Pennsbury Superintendent

FALLSINGTON, PA —Pennsbury Schools Superintendent Thomas A. Smith has reached out to parents and guardians in the wake of recent unrest in the Middle East.

In an email to the Pennsbury School Community Wednesday, Smith stated that students may be stressed by the attacks on Israel by Hamas over the weekend.

"One of the challenges of living in a connected age is that our students are sometimes inundated with images of events taking place across the world in real-time," Smith said in his email. "These events may be difficult to process for many of our students."

Smith said that the Pennsbury community is home to families with cultural ties to Israel, Palestine, and the geopolitical region known as the Middle East.

He said that concerns have also been raised about possible protests occurring in Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

"In my time at Pennsbury, I have witnessed excellent instruction by experienced educators. I am confident that if asked, they can use these opportunities as teachable moments to assist students in processing these events professionally and without bias," Smith said.

He said that while teachers and staff members work diligently to create a safe space and support our students, anyone with children struggling to process the recent events should reach out to their school counselor.

According to the Israeli government, the death toll from Hamas' devastating attack over the weekend has reached 1,200 people, most of whom were unarmed civilians.

Smith also shared school resources to provide additional support and guidance to our families.

Social and Emotional Resources for the Classroom and Home

• How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and War —: Common Sense Media gathers tips and conversation starters to help you talk to kids of different ages about the toughest topics.
• Talking to Your Kids About War —VeryWell Family explores ways families can speak with young people about war, including tips on sharing information and restricting media coverage.
• How to Talk to Your Children About Conflict and War —UNICEF’s guide offers eight tips to support and comfort your children.
• Handle with Care: Supporting Young People During Crises — Learning for Justice offers recommendations and resources to help guide conversations with young people and to manage potential subsequent actions and reactions.